University of North Texas Athletics
Darden Earns FWAA First Team All-America Honors
12/30/2020 1:00:00 PM | Football
DALLAS - Senior wide receiver Jaelon Darden was named a First Team All-America selection by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), presented in partnership with the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, on Wednesday.
Darden is among the nation's leaders in all of the major receiving categories. The Houston native finished with 74 receptions for 1,190 yards and a single-season program record 19 touchdowns in just nine games. His 19 receiving scores lead the Football Bowl Subdivision and has two more than Alabama's DeVonta Smith, who has the second-most nationally. Darden ranks seventh in the country in receptions per game (8.2). Darden led the nation in games with three or more receiving touchdowns, with four, and also tied for the most receiving scores in a single game in the country with four. Darden ranks third nationally in receiving yards per game (132.2) and receiving yards (1,190) and fourth in receptions (74). Darden concluded his time in Denton as the program's career record-holder in receptions (230), receiving yards (2,782) and receiving touchdowns (38).
The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic is presenting the All-America Team as part of what has been a season-long campaign to promote the 77-year history of this prestigious honor. Each All-American will receive a commemorative football and the first-team selections will be presented with a custom All-America watch.
Since 1945, the FWAA team has been among the five used in the NCAA's selection of an annual consensus All-America team in college football. Since the 2002 season, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), The Associated Press, The Sporting News and the Walter Camp Football Foundation have joined the FWAA as the five designated selectors by the NCAA.
Darden is a finalist for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, was named the Conference USA MVP, a Pro Football Focus First Team All-American (and the PFF Conference USA Player of the Year), an ESPN All-America selection, a Bleacher Report All-America selection, and a Second Team All-America selection by the Associated Press, The Athletic and the Sporting News. Darden also narrowly missed a spot as one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award (was a semifinalist).
Darden is among the nation's leaders in all of the major receiving categories. The Houston native finished with 74 receptions for 1,190 yards and a single-season program record 19 touchdowns in just nine games. His 19 receiving scores lead the Football Bowl Subdivision and has two more than Alabama's DeVonta Smith, who has the second-most nationally. Darden ranks seventh in the country in receptions per game (8.2). Darden led the nation in games with three or more receiving touchdowns, with four, and also tied for the most receiving scores in a single game in the country with four. Darden ranks third nationally in receiving yards per game (132.2) and receiving yards (1,190) and fourth in receptions (74). Darden concluded his time in Denton as the program's career record-holder in receptions (230), receiving yards (2,782) and receiving touchdowns (38).
The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic is presenting the All-America Team as part of what has been a season-long campaign to promote the 77-year history of this prestigious honor. Each All-American will receive a commemorative football and the first-team selections will be presented with a custom All-America watch.
Since 1945, the FWAA team has been among the five used in the NCAA's selection of an annual consensus All-America team in college football. Since the 2002 season, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), The Associated Press, The Sporting News and the Walter Camp Football Foundation have joined the FWAA as the five designated selectors by the NCAA.
Darden is a finalist for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, was named the Conference USA MVP, a Pro Football Focus First Team All-American (and the PFF Conference USA Player of the Year), an ESPN All-America selection, a Bleacher Report All-America selection, and a Second Team All-America selection by the Associated Press, The Athletic and the Sporting News. Darden also narrowly missed a spot as one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award (was a semifinalist).
Players Mentioned
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